The new Salvador Dali Museum situated on a scenic waterfront site in downtown St. Petersburg, Florida. This concept is drawn directly from the building’s purpose, inspired both by Dali’s surrealist art and by the practical need to shelter the collection from the hurricanes that threaten Florida’s west coast. The building protects this priceless art collection from hurricane-force winds and water. The fortress-like structure is designed to withstand the 165-mph wind loads of a Category 5, 200-year hurricane.

The roof is 12-inch thick, solid concrete and the cast-in-place reinforced concrete walls are …